No Small Potatoes: Junius G. Groves and His Kingdom in Kansas

This account traces Junius Groves’s life from his birth on a Kentucky plantation shortly before the Civil War ended to his move westward and settlement in Kansas. He progressed from farm laborer to tenant and landowner, beginning with 80 acres. Growing potatoes, Groves eventually held more than 500 acres and became known as the Potato King of the World in 1902. The narrative also follows the work and vision he shared with his wife, Matilda.